Arch support and protector therefor



ANiay 17, W. M SCHOLL y 1,858,524

ARCH SUPPORT AND PRoTEcT'oR THEREFOR Filed DSG. 27, 1927 by Z5.

Patented May 17, 1932 Parser erstes WILLIAM M. SCHOLL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ARCH'SUPPOR-T AND PROTECTOR THEREFOR Application led December 27, 1927'. Serial No. 242,593.

rlhis invention relates to improvementsin arch supports for the foot, and more particularly to a protective sheathing or pad for the arch support which effectively prevents injury to hosiery and the inner part of the shoe of the wearer.

Arch supports in general embody a stiffened or metal plate shaped to support the plantar region of the foot in its proper posi- -J tion. AThese plates in most instances do not extend the full length of the shoe of the wearer, when inserted therein, and so have a tendency to slip forward or otherwise become displaced 'with the resultant discomfort or l5 injury to the user. It has also been found that the metal plate during continued use tends to become worn and relatively sharp along its forward edge and, therefore, tends to cut into the inner sole ofthe shoe, thereby injuring the same and in many instances the hosiery of the wearer. Heretofore means have been provided to lprotect the inside vof f the shoe or to prevent the forward edge of the plate from becoming sharp. These means i .25 have usually been in the form of leather pads or sheaths and have proven objectionable in various ways, in that when used for a comparatively short Vtime the leather tended to become worn and smooth .and would not effectively prevent slipping ofthe arch support. Moreover, in many instances, the metal plate in arch supports is covered by a flexible member to prevent direct contact of the footwith the plate, and these formerly ..35 used leather sheaths were not sufficiently elastic to permit the flexible covering to assume its proper position within a shoe.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above noted defects and objections ...40 the provision of a pad or sheath `for the arch support plate which sheath is formed of elastic or resilient material such as rubber or the like, and effectively prevents slipping of the arch support.

.50 fully protecting the inside of the shoe and The invention also seeks to provide a padA or sheath which may be readily attached to. any arch support and which permits all parts j Ying prevented by a flexible covering 2, prefpreventing the forward edge of the stiffened plate from becoming sharp due to wear thereon Y A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and time-saving method of making an arch support with a protective sheath.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics, and advantages, of devices embodying this invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures. Y

lThe invention includes these and other features of construction andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and shown in a preferred form of the drawings, as more particularly indicated by the claims.

in the drawings: Y

Figure l is a bottom plan view of an arch support equipped with a device embodying 7o principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 isa sectional view through the arch support, showing the same in position for use.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan viewof an arch 75 support equipped with a slightly modified form of the present invention' Figure l is a rear view in elevation of the device itself shown in Figure 1, in inverted position. Y j

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the device taken substantially along line V-V of Figure 4.

- Figure 6 is a rear view in elevation of the slightlymodified form of the device shown in Figure 3, in inverted position.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially'along line VII-VII of Figure 6.

As shown in the drawings;

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention there is shown an arch support embodying a. stilfened or metallic plate l shaped to properly support a foot in its normal position, direct contact of the foot and plate beerably of leather or similar materiahsecured to the upper side of the plate by means of rivets 3 or in any other ydesired manner. Since the plate l must be provided with various degrees of curvature therein, the forl ward margin 4 of the plate is substantially at an angle to the remainder` of the plate. This margin 4, if permitted to Contact with the insole of a shoe, would obviously become relatively sharp and possibly injure the shoe or hosiery of the wearer.

Novel protective means have been provided to prevent the margin 4 `from becoming sharp or causing such injury, and to holdthe plate from slipping from its desired position within a shoe. These means comprise a sheath or pad 5 preferably integrally moulded of rubber or a compound thereof, and shaped to conform in general to the contour of the forward edge of the plate l. The pad 5 has rearwardly extending spaced flaps 6 and T thereon which define a slot 8 therebetween to receive the forward portion of the plate l including the margin 4. At its forward end the pad isprovided with an upturned margin or lip 9, which together with the remainder of the pad, provides an arcuate upper surface thereon.

In applying the pad to the arch support, the flap 7 is disposed between the plate l and vthe covering 2, and this iiap together with the upper surface of the remainder of the pad and the lip 9, is preferably secured to the under side of the covering 2 by some .adhesive such as glue, mucilage, or the like. When the margin 4 of the plate l enters the slot 8 the lip 9 will tend to somewhat straight- Y en as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 5,

and the flap 6 will thereupon intimately grip the under side of the plate l. This is especially true when the pressureof a foot 1s upon 'the arch support, the lip 9 permitting the upper portion of the pad to stretch slightly, and the padwill, therefore, not tend toV become loosened from the covering 2. Due to the flexibility and peculiar shape of the pad 5, the forward portion of the covering 2 will assume its correct and proper position within a shoe.

In Figure 3, there is shown an arch sup-V port commonly known as a metatarsal support, and comprising a metal or stiffened plate la provided with a covering 2a, the difference between this support and that disclosed in Figures l and 2 lying in the curva-A curved to`iit the contour of the margin 10,

and is provided with spaced flaps 6c andi'a defining a slot 8a therebetween, and an upturned lip 9a, which parts function the same as in the previously described pad.

It will be apparent fromthe disclosures hereinabove that the present invention con-V with the making of the arch support. In this case, the covering 2 or 2a is obtained and a suitable pad secured thereto, after which the plate l or la is attached to the covering. The covering andunder flap of thepad may then be sprung back to permit the insertionof the forward margin of the plate within the slot defined by the iapsof the pad. l'

From the foregoing, vit will be .apparent that l have provided a novel protector for arch supports which edectively prevents slipping of the support within a shoe and which,

due. to its peculiar structure, will at all times firmly grip the forward edge of the arch support plate, and follow b oth the peripheral and bodily contour or curvature thereof, and will not tend to become loosened from its operative position. Moreover, the protector described herein may be simply, easily, and economically manufactured;

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A protective pad adapted to engage over an extremity of oneof two superposed arch support members, a pair of flaps. on said pad,

`said flaps defining a slot therebetween to receive a portion of one of said arch support members, one of said flaps to be secured to the other of saidA arch support members, the

other of said flaps to looselyvembrace said kreceived member, and an obliquely upturned portion'forming the forward margin of said pad and causing said loose flap to intimately grip said received member when lpressure is exerted on said arch support members.

2. In combination, an arch support embodying a relatively stilfened plate and av covering therefor, and a protective device for said plate comprising av resilient pad shaped in general to the contour of the edge of 'said plate, a pair of flaps on said pad to engagea portion of said plate therebetween and an obliquely upturned lip on the forward margin of said pad,'one of said flaps and said In combination, an arch support embodying a stifened member and a covering therefor, a molded pad secured to said covering including a portion to underlie a margin of said stiifened member, and an obliquely upturned lip on said portion to intimately contact said covering at alll times and to cause said portion to grip said member when pressure is exerted on said covering.

4. In combination, an arch support embodying a relatively stiff member, and a resilient pad having a slot therein to receive the forward margin of said member, and an integral obliquely upturned lip on said pad adjacent the forward terminus of said slot to cause the under portion of said pad to intimately Contact said member when the same is inserted in said slot and pressure applied on said lip.

5. In combination, an arch support including a relatively stiiiened arched member having a rounded forward end and a covering for said member, and a molded rubber padelilre protector secured to said covering and including a pair of flaps defining a slot therebetween curved to t the rounded forward end of said member, said flaps embracing the forward margin of said member, and an angularly disposed lip on said pad to cause said pad to grip said member without being secured thereto.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cookl County, Illinois.

WILLIAM M. SCHOLL. 

